If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You must register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing posts,
select the forum that you want to visit from the list below.

ICC E1 Residential Inspector Exam

Hello all,
I'm almost ashamed to talk about it but today I took the E1 Residential exam and bombed it with a 48 ! I have been in ELE field as an electrician for 21yrs. Have done a lot of residential on the side but more industrial during the last 10 years. Have moved up to Electrical Engineering Tech lately, a more advanced troubleshooting role for robotics and industrial controls. I recently inquired about a local Electrical Inspector position (would really like to pursue the inspection side of the field)and today, I went and took the Residential E1 ICC test. I failed miserably with a 48 and studied the 2014 NEC code book for 2 weeks in the afternoons after work. I also purchased and studied and took the /NEC quizzes. I didn't get thru all 2400, maybe a 100 or more. I cant afford to spend anymore $ on resources for study being a family of 4 and Christmas is here but will try the test 1 more time and ill be done for 6 months and the job will be filled. Is there any advice anyone can give me as to what or how I can prepare better without the funds to do so ?? Don't need answers just guidance to succeed Help !!

Forgot to mention in original post how I maneuvered thru and took the test. If you have any feedback on how to best take the exam please reply. I took the computer based exam.

First I went thru the test (all the way to the last question #60) looking for questions I knew immediately and answered them without looking them up. Clicking MARK on the ones I didn't know to be able to go back and answer them later. I did not choose an answer on the ones I marked to do later and I'm thinking I should have made a educated guess so that if time ran out at least all questions would have been answered and a 25% chance of getting it right ??

I went back and began to look up and answer the ones I previously MARKED. And the result was, time ran out and I left too many questions UNANSWERED !

After getting home and gaining my composure I started to go over how I approached the test. I figured I lost 20-30 sec of time for each question I read and marked for later ( figure I lost 6-8 min of time ). With a 48 I'm figuring I got 30 correct at 1.6 pts per question and believe I left 20-25 unanswered which means I must have gotten 5-10 wrong.

While it is based on and extracted from the NEC the material is presented different in the ICC residential code, some of its tables will be complied to cover multiple NEC tables.

When you take the commercial and plan review those tests are based on the NEC.

I have no doubt given unlimited time you would pass, but this (these) tests are all about speed.

I would suggest to study the ICC residential electrical code sections and how they are laid out. It is presented a bit different and in some cases its easier than reading the NEC. The material will be familar to you as you have been studying the NEC.

There were a few calculation questions but the majority of the test was code related. Was just having a hard time finding the answers within the time limit. The way some of the questions were worded was a little confusing on which section of the code to look in.

There is nothing to be ashamed about if you don't have any code book experience. By that I mean if you have not practiced code questions by finding answers in the code book you will have a hard time on any code related test. Your number of years in trade experience will NOT transfer into code book usage experience. (I am not picking on you this applies to any electrician)

I get fair amount of guys in my class that have 20+ field experience but do not know how the code book is laid out so they usually fail their first quiz/test until they practice using a practice book and a code book. Then they get more experience in using and navigating the code book.

EdwardThe only thing I know, is the progressive discovery of my ignorance

While it is based on and extracted from the NEC the material is presented different in the ICC residential code, some of its tables will be complied to cover multiple NEC tables.

When you take the commercial and plan review those tests are based on the NEC.

I have no doubt given unlimited time you would pass, but this (these) tests are all about speed.

I would suggest to study the ICC residential electrical code sections and how they are laid out. It is presented a bit different and in some cases its easier than reading the NEC. The material will be familar to you as you have been studying the NEC.

Use the book the test is based on and you should do fine.

Joe Villani

Thanks for the info ! I got access to the 2015 International Residential Code on the ICC website and see that it is laid out differently. Chapters 34-43 are the electrical sections. So I got public access to the 2015 residential code on the web site and can study it from there. So you recommend purchasing the 2015 ICC RC and studying and taking it to the test site (or is it material that may not be approved)? The bulletin on the test does say that the literature just has to be binded and notes written in ink and highlights are acceptable. Didn't know if an illustrated version (if this is illustrated )would be acceptable ?

There is nothing to be ashamed about if you don't have any code book experience. By that I mean if you have not practiced code questions by finding answers in the code book you will have a hard time on any code related test. Your number of years in trade experience will NOT transfer into code book usage experience. (I am not picking on you this applies to any electrician)

I get fair amount of guys in my class that have 20+ field experience but do not know how the code book is laid out so they usually fail their first quiz/test until they practice using a practice book and a code book. Then they get more experience in using and navigating the code book.

Thank You for the honesty and reply, you are exactly right ! I practiced the quizzes on Mikes site for 2 weeks, looking up every answer in the code book, every afternoon and still had issues trying to find the answers in a timely manner during the test. I'm going to continue practicing the quizzes and also studying the 2015 ICC residential code (electrical section of the code) as another member has mentioned.

Thank You for the honesty and reply, you are exactly right ! I practiced the quizzes on Mikes site for 2 weeks, looking up every answer in the code book, every afternoon and still had issues trying to find the answers in a timely manner during the test. I'm going to continue practicing the quizzes and also studying the 2015 ICC residential code (electrical section of the code) as another member has mentioned.

Thanks,
Dennis

IMO, strictly studying the ICC residential section may only gain you a PASS for the residential certificate. However, studying the material that Mike Holt has using the NEC code book will have much deeper positive impact on getting other inspector certifications not juts the ICC residential. (ICC commercial, ICC plan check, ICC master electrician, IAEI certifications...)

EdwardThe only thing I know, is the progressive discovery of my ignorance

ICC E-1 Residential electrical Inspector exam

My advice for passing the exam ( although I took the commercial electrical ) would be to study your code book more and make sure you have tabs too. The ICC exam is all about identifying key words in the question and using the index in the back of the book to locate the code reference/ section specific to said question. I think your method was flawed too about going through the entire test first, which you correctly associated to precious lost time, as you only have about two minutes per question as an average. Mike Holt's quizzes were a valuable resource as well. Get to know your code book : where the various wiring methods are, tables, services , branch circuits,etc. Study and you will pass. Good luck.